Handling Problem

[Iain l]

Hi all, I have a strange problem. A few days ago I realised both rear tyres were thin one especially so phoned round and only one place had 215-45-17s in stock. They were made by sumitomo but I got them anyway as I had a long journey ahead. Over the next few days the car felt weird, it always felt like it was overseering on corners even when driving like a vicar. If you push it just that little bit more so you are still driving sensiblish the VSC light flashes and occasionally you feel the car take control as it were as it beleives you are going into a slide. I thought perhaps the tyre pressure was wrong but they were at 35psi, I blew them up to 40 anyway but no difference. My front tyres are getting a bit low now so I am going to get a known make of tyre but put them on the back and the sumitomos on the front to see what happens but has anyone out there experienced this?

I know the sumitomo things were cheap but I have had cheap tyres before and they have never had this sort of effect. The car also seems badly effected by cross winds.

Any ideas folks??

Iain

[michelangelo]

I have noticed exactly the same thing since fitting Dunlop SP2000s in place of original Bridgestone Turanzas.

Tyre pressure is spot on, wheels aligned and balanced (and not buckled), and suspension is fine.

Very conscious of car 'wandering' on motorway, and very bad in crosswinds. :!Removed!:

[Steve84]

I've heard how different tyre brands can affect handing, i went from michelin energy to dunlop sports on my corolla and that made the car a pig to drive. Understeer followed by oversteer. On the whole the grip level was a lot less the front tires would wheelspin with very little revs. All tires where at correct pressure and tracking and balancing was all spot on. My Avensis is on sport 2000 by dunlop and most times i pull away from junctions the slip light flashes, drove a avensis with bridgstones no problems more grip and a better car to drive on the whole. At the moment i've got around 4mm left all round so will be either getting michelin or bridstones fitted when the time comes.

[mucker]

I had the same thing very recently, two brand new Michelin Energies on the back, felt very weird. Let the pressure down from 32 to 30, bingo, car feels like it's mine again. I recalled a conversation with an independant tyre specialist a few years ago who suggested adhering to the tyre manufacturers pressure guides, not the motor manfacturers pressure guide. Now when I get tyres fitted, I always record the pressure in them after first fitted and stick to that. I still get the mileage.

//mucker

[Iain l]

I'm glad that I'm not alone with this however today the problem was cured. I put 2 clavers (or something like that) on the back and the cheapos on the front and heypresto. Handling stransformed, I left the garage and headed for the closest roundabout. You would expect that taking what were best described as bald oil coated tyres from the rear to the front would just result in excessive understeer instead but not the case. Yes it would understeer but you needed to be breaking the national speedlimit on a roundabout to feel it. So happy again apart from the £230 bill for the tyres.

It would be interesting to hear what "budget" tyres other people have got away with or failed with.

Iain

[mucker]

I put 2 clavers...

Took me while to understand what you meant. I think you mean Klebers. Not a bad tyre. I have two on the front with no problems to report. I tend to avoid cheapo tyres meself as I do alot of motorway miles.

//mucker

[Iain l]

Ooops, well it was dark outside and I couldn't be bothered to find a torch. I didn't realize I had remembered the name so badly though..

[michelangelo]

I'm taking my car to Kwik Fit tomorrow to swap my Bridgestone Turanzas back on to car in place of dunlops. Will report back

[michelangelo]

Bridgestone Turanzas back on car now, and handling, stability and grip vastly improved.

Also less noise than Dunlop SP Sport 200Es. Which is a surprise as the Turanzas are made of softer rubber, which tends to create more road noise (tread pattern also a factor).

If anyone is thinking of buying SP200s for their Avensis, I wouldn't recommend it.

[rooo]

Bridgestone Turanzas back on car now, and handling, stability and grip vastly improved.

Also less noise than Dunlop SP Sport 200Es. Which is a surprise as the Turanzas are made of softer rubber, which tends to create more road noise (tread pattern also a factor).

If anyone is thinking of buying SP200s for their Avensis, I wouldn't recommend it.

You said earlier they were SP2000's, but this time you say SP200's - which ones did you have?

There is quite a difference in tread pattern and price between these 2 tyres. I have the SP2000's and have not had any problems with them.

[michelangelo]

Apologies - SP200Es